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dose

(dōs)

a. A specified quantity of a therapeutic agent, such as medicine, prescribed to be taken at one time or at stated intervals.

b. The amount of radiation administered as therapy to a given site.

2. An ingredient added, especially to wine, to impart flavor or strength.

3. An amount, especially of something unpleasant, to which one is subjected: a dose of hard luck.

4. Slang A venereal infection.

tr.v. dosed, dos·ing, dos·es

1. To give (someone) a dose, as of medicine.

2. To give or prescribe (medicine) in specified amounts.

[French, from Late Latin dosis, from Greek, something given, from didonai, to give; see dō- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

doser n.

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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